Giants.com names three players who made a key impact at Sunday's practice:
TE MATT LACOSSE
In what has become almost a daily routine for the 6-foot-6, 255-pound tight end, LaCosse made another highlight grab in Sunday's practice, the team's first since opening the preseason against Pittsburgh on Friday. Similar to a handful of other plays he's made recently in training camp, LaCosse won a jump ball from quarterback Josh Johnson, spinning backwards to secure the catch as he hit the ground. That wasn't the only play he made, either. LaCosse caught a touchdown during the two-minute drill with the third team. LaCosse was targeted three times against the Steelers, making two catches for 11 yards.
"You always look and see how guys bounce back who've had good practices," coach Ben McAdoo said generally about players coming off the first game, "and maybe not have played in the game as well as they would've wanted to play, see how they jump back out here on the practice field and how they handle themselves. It was a good response today."
CB DONTE DEAYON
View the best photos from Giants Training Camp practice
Deayon kicked off another perfect day for the defense in the two-minute drill. Eli Manning led the first team down to the five-yard line but was then intercepted by Deayon in the end zone. The second and third units also stopped the offense, which needed a touchdown and a two-point conversion in today's scenario. LaCosse came the closest with the third group, but the offense failed on the conversion.
Deayon, a 5-foot-9, 163-pound cornerback who spent time on the practice squad last year, opened in the slot against the Steelers in place of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who had the night off. He recorded two tackles and a quarterback hit on defense. However, he muffed a punt that Pittsburgh recovered.
WR STERLING SHEPARD
As he recovered from a sprained ankle, Shepard was one of seven Giants who did not suit up vs. Pittsburgh because of injury. But they're going to be smart and take it slow with the second-year pro, who caught eight touchdowns as a rookie. In the meantime, Shepard keeps taking on more and more at practice since he left with the ankle nearly two weeks ago. He had a big practice on Sunday, and despite not closing the deal in the two-minute drill, the Oklahoma product had a handful of catches to help bring the offense deep into the green zone.
